Atlanta Daily World

MY LOVE IS NEW
by
BENNETT
IRIS

On a sunny day in June, lovely Constance Darby is driving to her home in Northwood with a song in her heart. Terry Cannon, whom she had loved as long as she could remember, was returning today after an absence of six months. He was assistant athletic coach in an upstate college and would not ask Constance to marry him until he was well established. As she drove along, Constance hoped he would forget all that, remembering only that he loved her, and propose now.

Stopping for gas, Constance meets suave, sophisticated Gordon Keith, Northwood's favorite son, who won fame as a newspaper correspondent and radio commentator in the big city. His car has broken down and she gives him a lift to the home of the wealthy, aristocratic Howards. Ostensibly, Gordon was returning home to write a book. What he refrained from mentioning was that he had been involved in a scandal in New York and was also broke. Upon learning Constance is in need of work, Gordon hires her as his secretary. This beautiful, blond girl attracted him greatly. That night Terry arrives. He and Constance go dancing at the "Red Slipper" with Rosalind, Constance's rebellious, 18-year-old sister, and her beau Bill Stanton.

Rosalind envies rich girls like Avis Bailey who live in "The Hills" and vows to get there some day. Constance is perturbed when Van Howard, a wealthy playboy, dances with her sister. Why wasn't he at the country club with the Hills crowd?

Terry and Constance drive down to the beach. He tells her he has accepted a summer job as swimming instructor at a boys' camp and that they can be married in October.

Thoughts of Rosalind impinge on Constance's happiness. The latter confides in Terry that Rosalind is getting more difficult every day and that Van Howard is the one boy she should never have met.

CHAPTER V

Riding back to the Red Slipper she told him about meeting Gordon Keith that day and that she was going to work for him as his secretary on Monday.

Terry hated his quick jealousy. He had heard some unpleasant stories about Gordon Keith in New York. At the time they had amused him, knowing in what high regard Northwood citizens held him. Why shouldn't Constance work for him? He, Terry, had no authority to tell her what or what not to do. Nor would he repeat the gossip he had heard. He trusted her and knew she loved him. "Gordon Keith," he thought, "might be a great ladies' man but he'll never have my girl."

Entering the Red Slipper again, they saw Bill Stanton, mopping his warm face, standing at the entrance.

"Where is Rosalind?" Constance asked.

"You tell me," he replied curtly. "I haven't seen her for an hour. I think she and Van Howard left together. Walking out on me... That's a fine way..."

"I'm sorry." She looked at Terry. "I can't wait for her. Father will think she's with me if he hears me come in. He gets furious if we're out after one o'clock, and it's nearly that. I can leave the front door unlatched for her."

Bill said, "I'll go home with Jeff. He didn't bring a girl. The next time I ask her for a date"

In the car Terry said, "Don't worry about her. She'll be all right."

The door opening awakened Constance, and Rosalind crept in.